Framing a piece of artwork in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. Our priest asked me to have his charcoal work framed. I thought, "Oh, no... I know nothing about art. I didn't even take Art 101 in college..." However, I accepted the assignment and knew that Pictures Plus in Kaka'ako had a good reputation, so I walked in and dropped off the print. After discussing with my dentist, she went back with me the next day to Pictures Plus to upgrade from plexiglass to Museum Quality Glass because this portrait of Bishop Larry Silva (Diocese of Honolulu) is a gift to the Bishop at his upcoming 50th Anniversary dinner. Kalani was the cashier who must have been amused at our conversation. He showed us different matting examples and we added on a gray mat to have as a border between the glass and the print. Wow. I learned a lot. The upgrades of matting and glass would be about $100 more. I told them that Father Adondee had a budget. My dentist offered to cover the difference, but Kalani said he would take care of it. Thank you so much! The work was supposed to be finished on Monday, April 28, but I got a call on Saturday, April 26 that it was ready! Thank you for finishing early! I appreciate the efficient service, free parking, beautiful environment, deep discount, and quality work! This is a gift that we're proud to present!

I visited Pictures Plus in Kaka'ako with a magazine article I wanted to frame and was originally…read moreplanning to do a full custom mat and frame combo. After reviewing the options, it ended up being a little out of my price range--but Kristi Medeiros, the Design Consultant, was incredibly kind, patient, and helpful throughout the process. She walked me through different solutions and even used their system to map out a digital template of the custom matting so I could visualize it. We ended up deciding to move forward with a custom mat for just $35, and she recommended using a standard-sized frame from elsewhere to stay within budget. I really appreciated her professionalism and willingness to help find a solution that worked for me. If you have any custom framing needs, I definitely recommend going to see Kristi at Pictures Plus!

What an amazing gallery of art and artisan crafts, located on S. Beretania Street, just after Ward…read moreAvenue on the mauka side of the street. We were looking specifically for the traditional Japanese Inden deerskin card cases, decorated by intricate lacquer patterns that last a long, long time. This is an exclusive leather craft handed down for thirteen generations within a single family! Absolutely beautiful! There are red and black leather Inden to peruse and enjoy, along with art, jewelry, ceramics, etc. Tusha Buntin was our knowledgeable guide in our exciting visit to this exquisite gallery. Definitely worth checking out! Woo hoo!

If you're looking for one of a kind art and antiques this is the place! They have an extensive…read morecollection of Asian & Polynesian art and they're so nice and knowledgeable. I love their collection of sketches by Jean Charlot and Yvonne Cheng! They also have a framing department with really unique moldings. Aisha is a cutie patootie and Kyrsten is a hoot!

I recently visited this place a couple of times because I was attending a meeting nearby. They are…read morelocated at the Chinatown Gateway Plaza on the 2nd floor. This is the same building that has the satellite city hall office. Parking is either on the street or in nearby lots. There is a municipal parking lot in the same building which entrance is on Bethel Street. Parking is cheap. Both times I went, it was on a Sunday. I found the DAC to be so interesting with the artwork displays from mostly local artists. There is a different exhibit each month and the best part, it's free to visit. They also hold art classes there. The layout of the center is a decent size, white walls, and spacious walking thru. They also have their own restrooms which were very clean. In January, the monthly exhibit was about the WWII internment camp in Waipahu as part of the Honouliuli National Historic Site's 10th anniversary celebration. It was informative & I learned somethings that I never knew before. In March the Hawaii Watercolor Society had a member's showing, which was also an interesting exhibit seeing the beautiful water color paintings. Overall, nice experience to check out.

Visited the Downtown Art Center to view an exhibit entitled Contemporary Photography innHawaii…read more2026. The space was on the second floor and was sorta generic gallery space. Not particularly well laid out with a table right as you walk in. Seemed clunky. Also - I was bugged that the work was not necessarily level...either the pieces were cockeyed or the labels were...sometimes both. And it was also weird that the labels didn't seem to be uniform...with one (maybe 2?) artist(s) having a QR code. Perplexing. The show itself was good...if kinda redundant.

A Hidden Gem in Downtown! This art installation is a…read morefantastic gem in the heart of downtown. So many different artists showcasing their unique styles and creativity. The atmosphere was inspiring--I even had a great conversation with a houseless man who was simply enjoying the beauty and emotion that art brings. Truly a space where everyone feels welcome and connected through art.

Came to see a play (Titus Andronicus) here. There's a gallery which showcases local artwork, books…read more The stage area is small and cozy with tiered seating which makes for a more intimate setting. Acoustics are pretty good- no problem at all hearing the actors. There were drinks for sale as well. FYI-there's only 2 bathroom stalls which made for a long line during intermission. Really enjoyed the venue and play!

There back! Pow!…read moreWow! is now World Wide Walls and the Hawaii festival is on! A new mission, to bring brightness through art to communities usually overlooked. Free and open to anyone. Watch the artist from around the world work and even talk with them. All are incredibly friendly. "I painted this whole wall with this little brush" says one standing on a lift at the end of a 250x20 foot mural. The deets: 1. Hawaii Walls runs from 05.08.2023 - 05.14.2023. 2. Follow World Wide Walls on IG and see pinned post for the mural map. 3. The greatest concentration of murals are at Palama Settlement. Other major locations include the Bishop Museum , Kalihi Kai Elementary, and Dillingham Plaza. Anyone interested in art or just want to see how it's created on a grand scale, this is a must.

Kakaako Murals- these two beautiful depictions of the Hawaiian culture are located next to each…read moreother on the wall of the Hibiscus Club on 350 Ward Ave, Honolulu. Go early because they're located in a parking lot

Recently visited The Art Board store at 1255 South Beretania St. It's a hidden gem located directly…read moreacross the Safeway store, right before Taco Bell. Roddy, the store employee, greeted me at the door. She was very personable and extremely helpful in answering all of my questions. Wanted to get a picture framed. She presented different price quotes to me. Had a picture frame that I earlier had purchased from Walgreens. After showing it to her, she inserted the picture into the frame and also installed the wire behind the frame so that I could hang it up on my wall. When I offered some money for her troubles, she said it wasn't necessary. No charges were applied. She made my day with her thoughtfulness and extreme kindness. This is a remarkable place that I highly recommend for all of your picture framing needs.

Haven't received my framing work back but they did a wonderful job for me before. I'm looking…read moreforward to seeing what they do with a picture I've had for 40 years that was ruined by the rain.

This is a quaint little place. We went to support my cousins as she was being featured. Everyone…read moreseemed friendly and it had a casual vibe. I'm not sure what it typically looks like or the products offered. Will definitely be back, my husband noticed one of the products that he was interested in going back to check out.

My favorite place in all of Hawai'i !!…read more I always come here because I love their events and the vendors here sell THE BEST food. I'm always excited to try the vendors they have. Every time I come here I'm always amazed by the options and vibe they curate. The owner is an interior designer and you can tell, it's a cozy and calm area with a nice amount of open space. They also hold art exhibitions here and it's nice to see them activate so many small businesses!

Matcha fest was wild and I noticed they've been having a lot of theme events lately? I wish it was…read moreon a weekend so it wasn't in the middle of a work week but I digress. I was shocked that so many freakin' people pulled up before the event even opened... like bruh.. LOL Could barely even walk inside the establishment.. I feel like they're definitely outgrowing this space - maybe move it to somewhere more spacious? Just a thought lol Other than that on days when they don't have theme nights you can find pop-ups from up-and-coming vendors starting their own individual businesses. It's always great to go and support and I appreciate Fishcake for providing a space for budding entrepreneurs to grow and expand to get their name out there! I also really enjoyed the Neko Art exhibit with the cats. My friend liked the cat art prints and purchased a few and stickers. As you can see there is something for everyone here lol.

The Refuge is the physical manifestation of 808 Urban, a non-profit arts collective founded by John…read more"Prime" Hina in 2006 with its mission to "keep at-risk youth off the streets and to revitalize Hawai'i's communities through large-scale mural art." (Source: http://www.oiwi.tv/community/communitynews/behind-the-wall-help-808urban-to-continue-its-work-with-hawaiis-youth/). Urban art aficionados may recognize Prime's acclaimed graffiti work found on a number of large wall murals around Honolulu. While walking through the Honolulu Night Market last month all by my lonesome, I had the opportunity to browse and familiarize myself with a number of businesses, food vendors, and places like this that caught my eye (or ear, or mouth, or appetite). I saw some local kids working on a piece of art outside of the store, decided to walk in, and wala'au'd (talked) with one of the girls behind the counter. The store has been open since mid-2012 and provides a physical space for the teens in 808 Urban to sell their art (t-shirts, prints, postcards, greeting cards, etc.). It's a chill retail setting and, while I didn't buy anything, I'm definitely going back again just to see what's new. Going home, I browsed through their website and learned that the space serves multiple purposes: as a location to hold educational workshops/events and as a a "collaborative workspace for the community" (Source: http://808urban.org/programs/the-refuge/). They have "junior boards" at schools such as Farrington High, Waipahu High, Wai'anae High, Kamehameha Schools, and more. As a former at-risk youth and person who's engaged in multiple forms of art - drawing, small-scale metal sculpture, welding, jewelry-making, and woodwork - this store tugged at my creative, bleeding heart. Prime appears to have filled in a niche that was underserved for too long of a time. Just a few months ago, they collaborated with artists from Pow Wow 2013 for a graffiti workshop. These kids have some mad talent and are putting their skills to use in way that helps to beautify the community and utilizes their creativity. If you're around at the next Honolulu Night Market, go check 'em out! REVIEW #230